The leader of Barnet Council has urged people not to panic and to do their bit to help slow the spread of coronavirus.

The latest data shows there have been 25 cases of Covid-19 in the borough, out of 1,391 across the UK. Nationally, there have been 35 deaths to date.

Council leader Cllr Dan Thomas today issued this statement to Barnet residents, urging people to self-isolate if they felt ill and maintain hygiene.

He said: “The UK has moved from the containment stage of dealing with Covid-19 to the delay stage. This means that we are trying to slow the spread in the country. The aim of delaying is to lower the impact the coronavirus will have and to push it away from the winter season.

"The slower the illness spreads, the more prepared all of our services can be.

"Information about what can be done can be found at www.nhs.uk and www.phe.gov.uk, and you can find the symptom checker at https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19.

"Handwashing and avoiding touching your face are two ways that the rate of infection can be slowed significantly.

"If you have a cough or fever, you are being asked to self-isolate for seven days.

"Barnet Council is in constant communication with the Government, the NHS and Public Health England, and we are scaling up our preparedness to support local communities and keep services running.

"It is important to be careful but not to panic. Some 80 per cent of those who catch the coronavirus experience only a minor illness, but we must all play a role to protect those most at risk; the vulnerable and the elderly."

Cllr Thomas represents Finchley Church End ward. He was elected as the leader of Barnet Council in May 2019.